Jun 18 2008 1:19 pm,
Wild Beasts
‘Limbo, Panto’
(Domino)
Wild Beasts are quintessentially English. It’s difficult to imagine their music coming from anywhere else. For once, it’s also difficult to imagine an album sounding less
The band’s early limited releases were an exciting prospect, unleashing out of nowhere the band’s unusual mix of operatics, operetta, falsetto and guitar pop. All of that coupled with quaint language, clever lyrics and references to an
Sadly, their eagerly awaited debut album, ‘Limbo, Panto’, disappoints. Sure, it’s an OK album, but it relies on those early tracks to make it a memorable affair, and it makes Wild Beasts sound distinctly tame. ‘Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants’ and ‘The Old Dog’ sound as good as the day they first leapt out of the band’s MySpace site in 2007. They remain, however, some of the most entertaining tracks on the album, and you’re left sitting through other fairly mediocre, unmemorable tracks whilst waiting for the album’s highlights (in full knowledge that they’re tracks you might have been listening to for many months).
The album’s opening two tracks are memorable for their ordinariness, and it’s not until the third track, ‘The Devil’s Crayon’, that things becomes interesting. If you’ve got as far as listening to this album, you’re likely to have heard – and like – Hayden Thorpe’s falsetto, the band’s trademark sound. However, such a vocal needs strong songs behind it, or it quickly begins to grate; listen to this in the wrong mood and you’ll swiftly be reaching for the advance button. And unfortunately, one thing this album lacks is great songs.
The verdict? Great band, great performances, shame about the album.
